Mickelson and Woods struggle to live up to billing

High noon fell at 8.30 yesterday morning in the western suburbs of Chicago, where the 10th tee of Medinah country club sits next to the busiest road junction this side of Hanger Lane. The two protagonists met under the shade of a Homebase gazebo, next to a basket of bananas. "Phil," said Tiger Woods. "Tiger," said Phil Mickelson. They shook hands and the temperature dropped about 20 degrees. The bananas straightened in anticipation.

For some reason the PGA of America sent along Geoff Ogilvy to make up the most eagerly anticipated threeball of the season when the man they should have called was Ennio Morricone. They were probably under the mistaken impression they were running a tournament when in fact they were hosting the greatest showdown since Jack and Arnie played off at Oakmont in 1962.

As everyone who has ever watched a Clint Eastwood western knows, you don't need the reigning US Open champion to stage a showdown, you need an arresting leif motif. What all great showdowns need, too, is a shocking opening scene and yesterday's showdown at Medinah certainly had that as Woods duck hooked his opening tee shot, chopped his second out of the rough, duffed his third from the middle of the fairway, mishit his chip from back of the green and didn't trouble the hole with his putt for par.

However, let the record show that while his great rival was zigzagging his way towards a bogey Phil Mickelson didn't smirk or high-five his caddie. He did better than that. He birdied the hole; booming drive, majestic four-wood to 25 feet and two putts. Round one to Phil.

Round two fell to Phil as well, thanks to another birdie on the 11th, his second. Woods had the consolation of hitting a couple of shots that were worthy of a professional rather than a 16-handicap hacker, but he missed a putt to match his rival. Ahead on the 12th green a leaderboard loomed. Apparently Billy Andrade was leading the tournament but everyone knew who was leading the main event: Mickelson by three shots.

The world No2 smiled in acknowledgment of the gallery's applause, which could either be construed as good manners or a big mistake. There are many characteristics that make Woods a great champion but perhaps the most underrated of them is that he is easily offended. In Woods' world a three-shot deficit after two holes is about as offensive as a slap across the cheek with a golf glove and while Mickelson went about cementing his reputation as America's sweetheart, the world No1 went about getting even.

Woods birdied the 12th after hitting a 360-yard drive, brushed the hole with his birdie putt at the next and then birdied the par-five 14th. Mickelson covered the same stretch in level par - a decent enough performance in itself but a couple of loose shots that hinted the momentum had shifted towards the other man. Sure enough, Woods birdied the next to pull even, and then Mickelson bogeyed the second hole - his 11th - to cede a one-shot advantage to his rival.

Had it been Sunday afternoon this turn-around would have been the perfect plot point in the developing drama but on a Thursday morning it served as a cue for both men to take stock and make sure they didn't play themselves out of the tournament. Woods might have eagled the seventh hole but missed a 12-foot putt. Mickelson birdied the 5th and 7th to pull himself even again.

As golfing showdowns go it was interesting rather than compelling, but at least if offered the chance to ponder two of the big questions: firstly, who is the most popular with the American galleries - Woods or Mickelson?; and, secondly, what would it be like to be Jennifer Aniston at a wedding reception for Brad and Angelina?

On question number one, the neutral observer is obliged to say it is too close to call. Both are popular, although Mickelson tries harder to win people over.

As for the second question, who better to ask than Geoff Ogilvy, who spent his day battling against annoying photographers and the complete indifference of everyone but his close friends and relatives. It was terrible indignity for a brilliant golfer and a potential winner of this tournament. "It was tough," he said as he stepped off the final green having shot a three-under par 69.